Mendole

Artist: Jonathan Couch (1789-1870)

Date: 1862

Style: Hand-Coloured Copper Engraved Plates

Paper Size: Approximately 15 x 25 cm 6 x 9 ¾ inches

Condition: Very good to excellent. Minor imperfections may be present due to age. Please examine the image carefully and contact us with any questions. 

Description:

The 1862 prints are particularly sought after due to their hand-colouring. Subsequent editions, published by Jonathan Couch using the chromolithographic process, lack this distinctive feature.

Jonathan Couch (1789-1870) based these on his own watercolors of freshly caught specimens. This commitment to first hand observation resulted in remarkably accurate illustrations. While his expertise lay in the diverse marine life of the western English Channel, his work also contains valuable original observations on the natural history of numerous sea fish.

Jonathan Couch, a quintessential Victorian provincial naturalist, was born in Polperro, Cornwall. After studying medicine in London, he returned to his hometown in 1810 to practice as a doctor and apothecary. However, his passion extended beyond medicine to encompass a wide range of scientific and cultural pursuits. Couch's interests spanned zoology, botany, geology, ichthyology, archaeology, Cornish folklore, and local history. He was also a classical scholar and writer.

Couch's most significant work, "A History of the Fishes of the British Islands" (four volumes), cemented his reputation as a pioneering ichthyologist. He meticulously studied and dissected local fish, relying heavily on the observations and catches of Polperro fishermen. To preserve the vibrant colours of his specimens, Couch employed a constant stream of water during dissection, allowing him to create hundreds of detailed watercolour illustrations. These illustrations are not only scientifically accurate but also possess considerable artistic merit. His other notable achievement was a translation of Pliny's "Natural History."

Couch's dedication to his research is evident in his meticulous approach and his reliance on local knowledge. He married three times, and his second wife, Jane Quiller, bore him six children, two of whom followed in his footsteps and became doctors. His grandson, the renowned writer Sir Arthur Quiller-Couch (affectionately known as "Q"), inherited his grandfather's literary talents. Beyond his scientific contributions, Jonathan Couch also documented Cornish beliefs and traditions, leaving behind a valuable record of the region's cultural heritage.